When Turkish Cargo was named Overall Carrier of the Year – Global at the 12th Payload Asia Awards, the recognition was not simply a reflection of scale. It was an endorsement of the execution of an air cargo operator that has expanded rapidly, yet continues delivering reliability at scale in an increasingly complex global cargo landscape.
“Being named Global Carrier of the Year reflects where Turkish Cargo stands today in the global air cargo industry,” says Ali Türk, Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines. “Over the past 15 years, Turkish Cargo has evolved from a solid international cargo operator into one of the world’s top three air cargo carriers.”
That growth has been substantial. Turkish Cargo’s market share has increased from 0.8% in 2010 to 6.1% today, supported by a dual-capacity network combining dedicated freighters with the extensive passenger operations of Turkish Airlines. Together, this structure reaches 375 destinations in 368 cities across 134 countries, forming one of the broadest cargo-enabled footprints in the industry.
“At this stage, the award is less about scale and more about execution,” Ali adds. “It confirms that we can grow while keeping operations predictable.”
In an industry where global trade patterns remain volatile, and disruptions have become a permanent feature rather than an exception, the ability to expand while maintaining control is precisely what has differentiated Turkish Cargo—and why its network strategy continues to draw attention across the market.
The Istanbul advantage: A hub built for intercontinental connectivity
At the heart of Turkish Cargo’s global operating model is Istanbul Airport, positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. For Turkish Cargo, Istanbul is not merely a transfer point, but the centre of the airline’s cargo orchestration.
“Istanbul Airport is the backbone of Turkish Cargo’s intercontinental network,” Ali says. “Our hub model gives us two capabilities at the same time: scale and agility.”
Its geographical position allows Turkish Cargo to maintain shorter connection times and routing flexibility, enabling efficient two-way cargo flows between key trade lanes. This is especially critical as shippers demand faster transit, greater route optionality, and stable capacity access amid continued supply chain uncertainty.
The strength of this model is reflected in the composition of Turkish Cargo’s business. “Today, around 80% of our volumes move as transfer traffic, which defines how capacity, connections, and operational priorities are planned and managed,” Ali explains.
This heavy reliance on transfer cargo underscores the importance of hub performance. In a hub-led network, even minor inefficiencies can cascade into missed connections, longer transit times, and service disruption across multiple regions. Turkish Cargo’s approach has been to ensure that network planning, hub operations, and infrastructure development function as a single integrated system.
“We do not see Istanbul as a simple transfer point, but as the place where the network is actively managed,” Ali says.
Differentiation through execution
Winning the Overall Carrier of the Year – Global category at the 12th Payload Asia Awards was a strong endorsement of Turkish Cargo’s performance and execution over the past year. According to Ali, the distinction reflected not only network reach but the carrier’s ability to expand connectivity while maintaining operational control.
“In 2025, the real difference for Turkish Cargo came from how the network was operated,” he says. “Capacity and connectivity grew together, while operational control remained within a single operating model.”
During the year, Turkish Cargo carried around 2.16 million tons, with an average load factor of approximately 85%. More importantly, Ali notes that this growth was absorbed without sacrificing performance.
“This growth was absorbed without extending connection times or changing operating routines,” he says. “Network planning, hub operations, and infrastructure decisions were handled together, with SMARTIST acting as the operational backbone of the hub.”
Today, Turkish Cargo is reinforcing this operating model by strengthening digital visibility, refining hub processes, and selectively adding long-haul capacity where demand and connectivity justify it. With a combined freighter and belly network serving more than 110 direct cargo destinations, the carrier is focused on converting connectivity into consistent performance—delivering reliability at scale in an increasingly complex global cargo landscape.
Network optimisation: Growth without operational strain
Operating one of the world’s widest cargo networks is only valuable if the airline can deliver consistent reliability across markets. For Turkish Cargo, network expansion decisions are not evaluated in isolation.
“At Turkish Cargo, each decision starts with market data, demand, customer needs, competition, and operational feasibility,” Ali says. “But the final view is always network-wide.”
In a hub-based model, route development is only meaningful if it strengthens connectivity across the broader system. Turkish Cargo has therefore adopted a layered approach to capacity management—reinforcing core corridors while applying flexible planning tools in markets where demand fluctuates.
“Core corridors that carry connectivity are reinforced structurally,” Ali explains. “In markets where demand fluctuates, we rely on seasonal planning, frequency adjustments, and flexible capacity options rather than permanent deployment.”
This approach allows Turkish Cargo to protect service quality even as the network grows. By keeping schedules realistic and maintaining manageable connection flows, the airline can avoid putting strain on hub operations—particularly during peak seasons.
“Our aim is clear: expand the network while delivering the same level of reliability in every market we serve,” Ali says.
Resilience built on ground coordination
For many cargo airlines, resilience is often framed in terms of fleet size or network redundancy. Turkish Cargo, however, places equal emphasis on operational coordination—particularly on the ground.
“In a hub-led cargo model, resilience comes from how the operation is run on the ground,” Ali says.
At its Istanbul hub, Turkish Cargo manages its network through a central operational control structure. During peak periods or disruptions, decisions are prioritised centrally to ensure cargo flows remain stable.
“Cargo flows are adjusted, connections are protected, and recovery actions are taken without fragmenting the network,” Ali explains. “This prevents local issues from spreading and keeps the overall system stable.”
Consistency is achieved through common operating standards across airports, ground handlers, and partners, as well as clearly defined decision-making lines. Rather than relying on short-term fixes, Turkish Cargo focuses on controlled recovery to restore normal operations.
For customers, the outcome is tangible. “Shipments remain traceable, commitments remain valid, and the operation continues without unexpected changes,” Ali says. “That consistency is what keeps the network reliable under pressure.”
SMARTIST and the infrastructure behind scale
Infrastructure is often the silent enabler of cargo growth. For Turkish Cargo, the SMARTIST facility at Istanbul Airport is not only a major cargo hub—it is central to the airline’s long-term scalability.
Turkish Airlines’ recent announcement of a large-scale investment initiative covering cargo, maintenance, and logistics infrastructure reinforces the importance of planning ahead.
“Network growth puts pressure on the hub before it shows up in the market,” Ali shares. “That is why we always plan infrastructure one step ahead.”
He emphasises that the expansion of SMARTIST is not simply about adding capacity, but about maintaining the same operating model at higher volume.
“When we expand SMARTIST, the focus is not simply to add capacity. It is to run the same operating model at a higher volume,” he explains. “Throughput increases, but the transfer flow stays unchanged. This is how we scale without losing performance.”
The upcoming SMARTIST 2.0 expansion will provide significant advantages for special cargo segments—particularly pharmaceuticals, perishables, and high-value shipments. Ali notes that Turkish Cargo’s pharmaceutical product, TK Pharma, operates under CEIV Pharma and GDP standards, supported by the facility’s temperature-controlled centre.
“With SMARTIST 2.0, cold chain capacity is being doubled,” Ali says, “enabling higher volumes of temperature-sensitive cargo to move through the hub without changing compliance or transfer discipline.”
The same structured handling flows support other specialised services, including TK AERO, ensuring that complex shipments can be transferred efficiently without disrupting the broader operation.
Looking ahead, Turkish Cargo expects the share of special cargo and e-commerce in its revenue mix to increase from around 49% today to approximately 55% by 2033—a shift that will require both infrastructure capacity and operational control.
“The SMARTIST expansion provides the capacity and operational control needed to support this shift while keeping speed and predictability consistent across the network,” Ali says.
Fleet planning as a strategic lever
Fleet decisions are another cornerstone of network optimisation. Turkish Cargo’s model relies on both freighters and belly capacity—managed not as separate business lines, but as complementary tools.
“At Turkish Cargo, freighters and belly capacity are not alternatives,” Ali says. “They are complementary tools managed under the same planning discipline.”
Belly capacity provides frequency and geographic depth through Turkish Airlines’ passenger network, while freighters are deployed where concentrated volume, time-critical flows, or specialised cargo profiles require greater control.
“The balance is set at the planning level,” Ali explains. “Capacity is adjusted through deployment rather than network redesign. This keeps the system responsive while preserving operational continuity.”
Importantly, the airline also recognises that freighter expansion must be supported by parallel investment in technical maintenance. Without that support, fleet growth can quickly become constrained.
“As freighter capacity grows, planning quickly becomes constrained if maintenance does not scale at the same pace,” Ali says. “By expanding maintenance capability in parallel, network decisions are driven by demand and connectivity, not by technical limits.”
Digitalisation as a foundation for predictability
As Turkish Cargo scales, technology plays an increasingly central role in ensuring alignment between planning and execution.
“As Turkish Cargo, technology supports how we run the operation,” Ali says. “It ensures planning and execution stay aligned as the network grows.”
The airline’s digital transformation is particularly evident in booking and capacity planning. Ali notes that most bookings now enter the system digitally, improving early visibility and reducing last-minute operational adjustments.
“In Asia Pacific, more than 90% of Turkish Cargo bookings are processed through digital channels, mainly via TK GO, our online booking platform,” he says.
On the operational side, Turkish Cargo continues to standardise documentation and tracking through tools such as electronic air waybill (e-AWB) and electronic Cargo Security Declaration (e-CSD), reducing manual intervention and improving regulatory efficiency.
Within SMARTIST, automation and dedicated secure zones support sensitive cargo flows, while internal systems provide real-time coordination. Ali highlights CAPRON for apron coordination, RPA for repetitive operational tasks, and Cargy for routine customer queries.
Together, these digital tools help Turkish Cargo maintain speed and control even as volumes rise.
Sustainability in a high-volume network
As shipper expectations evolve—particularly in Asia Pacific and Europe—sustainability has become a growing factor in airline selection and long-term partnerships. Turkish Cargo is positioning itself to meet these expectations while ensuring that operational reliability remains intact.
“Sustainable aviation fuel is currently used on selected flights, given current supply constraints,” Ali says. “We work with forwarders on shared SAF models and support initiatives in Türkiye to enable wider adoption over time.”
Beyond fuel, Turkish Cargo’s sustainability strategy remains anchored in efficiency—optimising aircraft utilisation and network planning to reduce unnecessary mileage, while providing emissions transparency to customers.
“This approach is reflected at our main cargo hub,” Ali says. “SMARTIST operates as a LEED-certified facility, designed for energy efficiency and lower environmental impact, while maintaining operational stability and throughput.”
Positioning for 2026 and beyond
Looking ahead, Turkish Cargo sees future growth anchored in both strategic trade corridors and value-added cargo flows, with Asia and the Americas expected to remain key axes of expansion.
“Our focus is not simply to add new destinations,” Ali says. “We concentrate on improving connection quality across the existing network, shortening transfer times, strengthening operational quality, and increasing capacity flexibility.”
Cargo segments such as e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, perishables, high-technology products, and time-critical shipments are expected to continue driving demand. Turkish Cargo is structuring its network around the specific requirements of these flows—speed, traceability, and service consistency.
To support long-term ambition, Turkish Cargo is aligning with Turkish Airlines’ Vision 2033 strategy, with concrete targets including a freighter fleet of 44 aircraft, around 150 cargo-only destinations, and annual volumes of approximately 3.9 million tons.
“These targets are underpinned by infrastructure expansion in Istanbul,” Ali says. “With SMARTIST 2.0, handling capacity will reach around 4.5 million tons, allowing growth to be absorbed without increasing operational strain.”
For Turkish Cargo, the path forward is clear: not merely to move more cargo, but to operate a network that remains controlled, predictable, and scalable as the industry evolves.
“Backed by Turkish Airlines’ 90 years of aviation experience,” Ali says, “this approach allows Istanbul to function as a controlled, high-capacity logistics hub rather than a volume-driven transit point.”
This story was first published in the January-February 2026 issue of Payload Asia.
